Meet the Founder: Amanda Schmidt

Moonwake Retreats was founded by two women who came together to create meaningful community, reconnect people with nature, and form safe spaces for deep rest and lasting transformation.

Meet Amanda Schmidt, Co-Founder and Director of Magick. Amanda leads the ritual and ceremony design for Moonwake, oversees local partnerships and relationships, and guides experiences such as sound healing and Reiki-based energetic work.

She also brings a sense of joy, play, and creativity into each retreat, helping shape experiences that feel magical, expansive, and deeply supportive.

1. Which of the five elements do you most identify with and why? 

I am definitely a Stardust girl! I’ve always been fascinated by the universe - outer space, constellations, the phases of the moon, the quiet intelligence that holds everything together. For me, Stardust represents interconnectedness - the understanding that there is no true separation between people, nature, or the cosmos. I often feel that sense of oneness during meditation and when I’m living in true alignment. It reminds me that the meaning of life isn’t something to discover, but something to remember. With my work in Reiki and intuitive reading, I’ve spent a lot of time playing with the element of Stardust. I’ve found it to be a source of deep wisdom and healing.

I often feel more connected to the starry night sky than I do to solid ground, but at the same time, that cosmic perspective is what allows me to live fully and meaningfully here on Earth. Let’s just say that if there were a chance to move to the Moon, I would be first in line. 

2. What inspired you to create Moonwake Retreats?

I participated in an Ayahuasca ceremony in Peru in 2023, and I felt a profound connection to Pachamama — Mother Earth — not just as a symbol, but as a living being. Throughout my experience, she used the elements of nature to heal me and to teach me both about myself and the world around me. In creating Moonwake, I wanted to help other people experience that wisdom and connection to nature, because it was life changing for me. I left with a deep sense of clarity, peace, and understanding. I have since established a long-standing relationship with nature that has reshaped how I process life, healing, and connection.

The second inspiration came when I felt the weight of collective burnout moving through my community. Living in Washington, DC, I witnessed widespread exhaustion, grief, and job loss. That strain showed up not just in conversations, but in people’s nervous systems, bodies, and spirits. I found it to be truly devastating.

Moonwake Retreats emerged as a response to both of these experiences. I wanted to create a space for people to reconnect with themselves, to feel held by community, and to heal together. I felt deeply that I could make a difference by bringing people back home to nature and reminding them of the clarity and peace we can find there.

3. What's one ritual or practice you never skip?

I regularly create my own bath rituals using homemade bath salts. I charge the salts with Reiki and use the water as a tool for release and reconnection. These are a must for me! It’s the best way to quiet my mind, reset my nervous system, and reconnect with my center.

4. What do you admire most about your Co-Founder?

I am constantly in awe of Michelle’s grounding presence and confidence. She brings a deep sense of clarity, and everything feels limitless with her. She never doubts that success is possible, never runs out of ideas, and constantly offers creative solutions - both in business and in life! She is unbelievably smart, innovative and has this unique ability to stay grounded while still thinking expansively. She’s a constant source of inspiration for me, and I am so excited that her gifts now reach our Moonwake Retreats guests!

5. What are you most excited for guests to experience on a Moonwake Retreat?

More than anything, I’m excited for guests to become part of an incredible community. Moonwake attracts people who are strong, thoughtful, and deeply committed to becoming the best versions of themselves. Our retreats are filled with people who are willing to show up with compassion, patience, and love, not just for themselves, but for one another. In a world that can often feel lonely and disconnected, that is a true gift.

Guests don’t just leave with insights or memories, they leave knowing they’re part of something bigger than themselves. They’re supported, understood, loved, and seen. And my hope is that they all remember that growth is something we’re meant to do together.

Want to learn more? Check out Amanda and Michelle’s bios here!